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Buying Platinum Coins and Bullion: From Wikipedia: Platinum coins are a form of currency. Platinum has an international currency symbol under ISO 4217 of XPT. Platinum bullion coins include the American Platinum Eagle, the Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, the Australian Platinum Koala and the discontinued Russian Ballet series issued by the Soviet Union and later by the Russian Federation. Also, in 1987 China began minting platinum coins by issuing 2000 proof-quality pieces with face value of 100 Yuan, 99.95% in composition, containing 1 ounce of platinum. China minted more platinum panda coins, in varying denominations and amounts, in 1988-1990, 1993-1997, and 2002-2005. The Russian Empire made legitimate platinum coins in the 1800s and the Soviet Union also produced platinum coinage. However, the imperial platinum coinage proved to be unpopular: Platinum resembles a great many less expensive metals, and it is very difficult to work, unlike the more malleable and ductile silver and gold. The Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation made plenty of platinum coins in denominations of 25, 50 and 150 rubles. Currently no Russian platinum coins are being made. The British Royal Mint also produces Platinum Britannia bullion coins and other occasional coins. From www.library.yale.com A profoundly original phenomenon was the striking by the Russian state of new platinum coins with the value of 3, 6 and 12 rubles from 1828 to 1845. Russia is the only country in the world that struck platinum coins for circulation. Shown is a 12 rubles piece, 1830, with an inscription proclaiming this coin to be composed of nine parts gold and sixty-eight parts of “pure Urals platinum”.
Examples of World Platinum Coinage Platinum Bullion The primary bullion hallmarks sold in the USA are from PAMP Suisse and Credit Suisse. Additional refiners include Heraeus, Tanaka, Metaux, and Valcambi. Platinum bullion can also be purchase for storage by outside entities. The ETFS platinum fund does this with an equity product traded on a US stock exchange. Other bullion alternatives include "Platinum Pool" accounts maintained by Kitco. Kitco stores and makes a market for platinum in these pool accounts. Government mint certification of metal purity is important; however, the premium you will normally pay over spot for government issued monetary coins has generally been much higher than the price of platinum bullion products. Therefore, platinum bullion can offer a better liquid investment vehicle as it has historically sold at a price closer to the spot price of the metal. Buying near spot offers the metals investor less premium that may be at risk on the future sale of the metal in contrast to the purchase and sale of monetary platinum coins with numismatic premiums.
Hybrid Bullion Coin From NWTM concerning the Isle of Man platinum bullion coin: The first platinum investment coin, the one-ounce Noble from the Isle of Man, was introduced in November 1983. The Isle of Man is an ancient British protectorate, and well known for producing a variety of high-quality coins with innovative and unusual designs. From 1983 through 1989, The Pobjoy Mint of England produced The Platinum Noble in sizes ranging from 10 ounces to 1/10 ounce, with the face value shown in "Nobles," a value equal the platinum content in troy ounces. The reverse of all coins features an historic Viking longship, "Thusly," shown under full sail. The obverse features the young Queen Elizabeth II with crown. The Noble is not currently being minted (February 2010). Bottom Line: Do your research, invest wisely, and don't pay much over spot for coins unless you want to be a coin collector rather than metals investor. ***Investment options also include bullion related equities: **Platinum Bullion/Coin Retailers in US/Australia (This site receives no commissions from these sites) Kitco (Platinum Pool Accounts Available) Golden Eagle Coins
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